Garment sleeving pressing apparatus



, 1970 R. L. BIEL GARMENT SLEEVING PRESSING APPARATUS Jan. 27

Filed May 28, 195

' mvswfozz 205627 L 5 BY United States Patent 3,491,927 GARMENT SLEEVING PRESSING APPARATUS Robert L. Biel, 2920 2nd St, Norco, Calif. 91760 Filed May 28, 1968, Ser. No. 732,653 Int. Cl. D06c /00 U.S. Cl. 223-73 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to garment sleeve pressing apparatus in the form of an implement for insertion within the sleeve of a garment to be pressed and which comprises a pair of pressure bars one of which is pressed against the forward limit of the sleeve interior and the other of which is pressed against the rearward limit of the sleeve interior by a spring means disposed between them and arranged to urge them apart. The forward pressure bar is provided with a plurality of openings by which steam and air may pass from the interior of the sleeve into contact with the forward elbow region of the sleeve to be pressed. In the embodiment described the pressure bars are formed of aluminum tubing and the spring is a circular hoop of spring material in strip form. The shoulder ends of the pressure bars are interconnected by a length of coiled spring.

This invention relates to garment sleeve pressing apparatus. It relates particularly to a pressing apparatus for use with a means for applying steam to the interior of a garment to be pressed and for applying cooling air to fix the press accomplished by the application of steam.

An object of the invention is to provide a garment sleeve pressing implement which can be inserted in a garment sleeve and the use of which, without further manipulation or operation, will result in the sleeve being pressed upon the application of heated air or steam followed by the application of cooling air. Another object of the invention is to provide a garment sleeve presser which is easily installed, is inexpensive to manufacture, is universal in the sense that a single implement may be used to press sleeves of widely varying size, which is safe to operate, is capable of manufacture in a rugged and trouble-free form, and which requires little if any maintenance. These and other objects and advantages of the invention, which will hereinafter appear, are realized in part by the provision of forward and rearward pressure bars lying in a common plane and each including an elongate member of length to extend from the shoulder region to the cuff region of a garment sleeve. The forward edge of the forward bar is curved along its length toward the rearward bar in a degree corresponding to the crook of a relaxed arm or to the shape of a garment sleeve at its forward limit. Also provided are means for urging the pressure bars apart comprising a spring lying in the common plane and secured to each bar at a point in the mid region along its length. The forward pressure bar is provided with a plurality of openings or perforations in the elbow region of the sleeve by which to conduct steam and air to the elbow at the forward limit of the garment sleeve. The preferred form of the invention has been selected for illustration in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the embodiment illustrated and that other embodiments of the invention are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of an automated garment pressing machine, which includes provision for introducing steam and air into the interior of the garment "ice to be pressed, upon which has been placed a garment whose sleeves contain sleeve pressing apparatus embodying the invention and the ends of which are shown extending downwardly from the garment sleeves;

FIGURE 2 is a view in front elevation of a sleeve pressing implement embodying the invention as it appears when installed within the sleeve of a garment to be pressed, the sleeve being shown in cross-section;

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of a sleeve pressing implement embodying the invention shown in relaxed state unassembled with any garment;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve pressing implement installed in the sleeve of a garment to be pressed and taken on line 44 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of the forward pressure bar of a sleeve pressing implement embodying the invention shown installed within a fragment of a garment sleeve and taken on line 5--5 of FIGURE 2.

Garment finishing or pressing machines are produced commercially in a number of styles involving various degrees of automation. An example of one of these garment pressing machines is illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawing where it is generally designated by the numeral 10. In general such machines involve the use of an expansible or inflatable form upon which a garment is placed. Means are provided for filling the interior of the garment with the pressing form so that the garment assumes substantially the shape that it has when worn. Steam is then introduced into the interior of the garment and is permitted to flow along and through its fabric. The result of this application of steam (hot, moist air) to the garment fabric is to return the fabric to unwrinkled condition. Following the application of steam cool air, normally ambient air, is applied in the same manner that the steam was applied whereby the warm moist air is blown away and the garment is cooled. The action of the cold air fixes the press or unwrinkled condition of the garment.

In FIGURE 1 the pressing apparatus 10 comprises a base section 12 housing an air blower fan, not shown, and various controls 14, 15, 16 and 17 which comprise an on-off switch, torso steam augmenting switch, air velocity control lever, and automatic pressing cycle initiator switch, respectively. The unit also comprises an expansible and inflatable form. A mans suit coat 20 has been placed upon the form 18 shown in FIGURE 1 so that only that portion of the form below the lower margin of the suit and a portion at the collar of the suit are visible in FIGURE 1. The upper end of the form terminates in a buck plate (not visible) which is perforated to pass steam and air and forms the upper support for shoulders and neck of the torso section of the garment to be pressed. A shoulder and collar presser 22 is mounted upon a rear support 24 by a hinged arm 26 whereby it can be pivoted down over the collar and shoulders of the garment to be pressed as shown in FIGURE 1. This shoulder and collar presser 22 includes a flexible inflatable bag structure which is forced down upon the garment toward the buck plate.

The rear support 24 includes an element which moves forward into engagement with the coat to be pressed at the lower back region of the garment and this element, which is not visible in FIGURE 1, cooperates with a retractable air operated front clamp 28 to limit the degree in which the garment is stretched toward its front and rear. The clamp 28 is mounted pivotally to the base 12 of the presser machine and it includes an upward extension 30 which presses against the front of the garment as the latter is inflated by the form 18.

While not visible in FIGURE 1, such machines normally include an outlet at each side of the upper portion of the garment form by which steam and air are introduced into the sleeves of a garment to be pressed. In addition many pressing machines include provisions for manually applying steam and cooling air to selected portions of the garment. This means usually has the form of a steam nozzle, such for example as the nozzle 32 in FIGURE 1, connected to a hand valve 34 and by a flexible conduit .36 to a source of steam and air within the presser machine 10. It will be apparent from an examination of FIGURE 1 that this hand operated nozzle could be employed to introduce air or steam or both into the sleeves of the garment to be pressed by simply inserting it at the cuff end of the sleeve and actuating the valve 34.

The mere application of steam to the sleeves of the garment aids materially in the reduction and smoothing of wrinkles. However, pressing is greatly facilitated if the steam is applied while the garment is made wrinkle free by stretching it smooth or pressing it smooth or both. The pressing implement provided by the invention is inserted in the garment sleeve where it stretches the sleeve to wrinkle free smothness and aids in the distribution of heat, steam and air to those areas of the sleeve where wrinkles and bagginess are most troublesome. Sleeves have different sizes and different shapes and one of the problems in providing a sleeve pressing implement is to devise a structure which will provide the requisite functions adequately in a single instrument which will fit a wide variety of sleeves in terms of shape and size. The pressing implement provided by the invention comprises a pair of elongate pressure bars which are inserted lengthwise in the sleeve one at the forward limit of the sleeve interior and the other at the rearward limit of the sleeve interior. Means are provided for urging the pressure bars apart at every point along their length from the shoulder to the cuff region of the garment. Current fashion dictates that the sleeve be pressed without formation of a crease. Accordingly, at least that surface of the pressure bars which engages the sleeve has a curved surface, in cross section, of substantially large radius. It is preferred that the radius exceed one-quarter of an inch. It will be explained below that the pressure bars are formed from tubular metal in the preferred embodiment and that the diameter of the tubular pieces should be one-half inch or threequarters of an inch or more for best operation. The two pressure bars may be, and in the preferred embodiment they are, curved or bowed in the direction of their length on an are that corresponds generally to the crook of an arm when hanging relaxed. Garment arms are often constructed so that the rearward limit of the sleeve interior is curved in corresponding degree. Most often the forward limit of the sleeve interior is not bowed. Instead it is straight. When the garment is worn it tends to stretch and tends to become misshapen so that the forward interior limit of the sleeve tends with time to assume a correspondingly bowed or crooked shape. The antinode of these two curves occur at the elbow region of the sleeve. The material of the sleeve tends to be stretched at the rear of the sleeve in this elbow region. Maximum wrinkling occurs at the opposite side of the sleeve. That is, maximum wrinkling occurs at the elbow region at the forward edge of the sleeve. Maximum heat is required at the rear elbow region to tend to contract the fibers of the garment material back to original shape to reduce the elbow bulge. Maximum moist air or steam is required at the front elbow region to smooth out wrinkles. It is a feature of the preferred embodiment of the invention that means are provided for applying substantial quantities of heat to the rear elbow section of the garment and for applying substantial quantities of steam at the forward elbow region of the garment. This means is provided, at least in part, by giving both of the pressure bars a bowed shape. The two pressure bars are arranged in a plane which contains the bow or curved dimesion of each of them. They are bowed in the same direction so that the rearward pressure bar tends to fit tightly along its entire length against the rearward limit of the sleeve interior placing it in firm contact with the rear elbow region of the sleeve. The forward presssure bar being similarly curved (though preferably a little less), its bowed section tends to fit loosely at the elbow region at the forward limit of the interior of the sleeve.

The means for urging the pressure bars apart into the forward and rearward limits of the sleeve interior comprises a spring disposed between the bars and in the plane of the bars and arranged so that the bars are urged apart along their entire length when inserted within the sleeve of a garment and with substantially the same force whether the pressure bars be arranged in parallel or whether they are closer at their cuff ends than at their shoulder ends or vice versa. Advantageously, the spring is attached to facing portions of the two pressure bars in their respective elbow regions. In the preferred form, the spring comprises a closed ribbon of spring material in the form of a hoop which is either circular or oval in shape (circular shape is preferred). This arrangement results in uniform bias and it serves to prevent twisting of the pressure bars out of the common plane. The spring loop has dimensions in the direction of the width of the sleeve which together with the pressure bars exceeds the width of the sleeve with which the implement is to be associated when the spring is in relaxed condition.

The forward pressure bar is provided with a plurality of openings at its forward edge in its elbow region by which steam and air is directed to and through the elbow region of the forward edge of the sleeve. It is at this region that the sleeve experiences greatest wrinkling and the openings in the pressure bar assure that steam and air may reach this forward elbow portion in requisite quantity. It is not essential to this action that the forward pressure bar be bowed or curved. However, if, as in the preferred form, it is bowed then maximum pressure at the forward limit of the sleeve will be exerted at the shoulder and cuff regions above and below the mid region or elbow region of the sleeve whereby the forward edge of the sleeve will be held relatively taut despite the fact that only light pressure is applied at the forward elbow region. The fact that the pressure is light permits free movement of the steam and air emerging from the openings of the forward pressure bar into contact with the whole of the forward elbow region of the sleeve.

The need for openings in the forward pressure bar at the elbow region results from the fact that steam and hot air are precluded from effectively reaching those portions of the sleeve which are in contact with the surface of the pressure bars. This effect is desired because while the sleeve is not to be creased at its forward and rearward limits, it is advantageous that it assume an oval shape making it tend to lie flat against the torso portion of the suit. Accordingly, openings for steam and air are provided only at the forward elbow region where exces sive wrinkling occurs. In the preferred form of the invention the openings are confined to this region and are not provided for the shoulder and cuff regions of the forward bar and they are not provided in the rearward bar. It is advantageous to apply substantial amounts of heat to the rearward limit and the forward limit of the garment sleeve. To this end, the preferred form of the invention employs a heat conductive material in its pressure bars at least in those regions of the bars which contact the forward and rearward elbow regions of the sleeve. In the embodiment selected for illustration in the draW- ings, the pressure bars are formed of aluminum tubing. This material absorbs heat quickly from steam which is introduced into the sleeve and transmits that heat to the garment surfaces which are contacted by the pressure bars. Advatnageously the rearward bar contacts all of the bulged material at the rear elbow and for this reason a relatively large diameter rear bar is preferred.

While not essential to successful operation of the invention, effectiveness of an implement according t9 the invention is greatly enhanced by the provision of a length of spring material secured at one end to the shoulder end of the forward pressure bar and secured at its other end at the shoulder end of the rearward pressure bar. The length of spring material is selected so that it will extend into the upper shoulder region of the sleeve substantially along its junction with the shoulder portions of the torso section of the garment whereby the upper portion of the sleeve will be held taut. Advantageously, this length of spring is formed of coiled spring Wire or is otherwise fabricated so that a passageway through the spring is formed by which the interior of the two pressure bars are placed in communication one with the other. By this arrangement steam may be introduced into the lower end of either tubular pressure bar and made to flow through the bar and upper spring length to the other pressure bar. While this mode of operation is not essential to successful employment of the pressing implement provided by the invention, this kind of operation is permitted by the structural features of the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings. In employing this method, steam is introduced at the cufi? end of the rearward pressure bar. Also, the forward pressure bar is provided with cutouts at its rearward edge by which steam introduced into the interior of the sleeve at its shoulder end may pass into the interior of the forward pressure bar and thence through the perforations at its elbow section to the forward elbow region of the sleeve. This method is more commonly employed. Of course these two methods may be employed in combination.

Referring to FIGURE 2 of the drawings, the pressing implement there shown is installed within the sleeve 40 of a garment. The rear elbow section of the garment sleeve is designated by the numeral 42 and the forward elbow region of the sleeve is designated by the numeral 44. The forward pressure bar 46 and the rearward pressure bar 48 lie in a common plane which also contains the hoop spring 50 by which the pressure bars are urged apart. The forward pressure bar 46 is pressed against the forward limit of the sleeve interior and the rearward pressure bar 48 is pressed against the rearward limit of the sleeve interior. In this embodiment both pressure bars are curved or bowed. They are bowed in the same direction and the bowed dimension lies in the common plane of the two pressure bars of the spring. Both pressure bars are tubular and both are formed of aluminum. The forward mid region of the pressure bar 46 is disposed adjacent the forward elbow region 44 of the garment sleeve and this region of the forward pressure bar is foraminated being provided *with a multitude of openings by which steam and air may pass from the interior of the tube to the tube surface adjacent the garment sleeve. In a representative example, these small openings, representative ones of which have been designated by the reference numeral 52 are equally spaced on one-fourth inch centers that have a diameter of one-sixteenth of an inch. The hoop spring 50 is secured at diametric points to the rearward mid region of the forward pressure bar 46 and the forward mid region of the pressure bar 48. The fastening means 54 by which the spring is secured to the pressure bars is arranged so that rotation of the hoop relative to the bars is precluded. The upper or shoulder ends of the two pressure bars are interconnected by a length 56 of coil spring wire which is secured, as by swaging, as shown, or by any other convenient means, to the pressure bars. This length of spring is biased so that it tends with light pressure to return to a straight condition, but is sufficiently flexible to accommodate any shape of sleeve shoulder or spacing between pressure bars that is permitted by the hoop spring 50.

At its rearward surface the wall of the forward pressure bar 46 is cut away in a region above and below the connection of the pressure bar to hoop 50 to form a cutout or slot by which steam and air may be communicated from the interior of the sleeve to the interior of the forward pressure tube 46. Steam and air are introduced into the garment sleeve by a steam and air inlet such, for example, as the steam and air inlet 60 which forms a part of the form 18 upon which the garment is mounted when placed on the pressing machine 10. In the embodiment selected for illustration, the upper cutout 62 and lower cutout 64 have substantially the same dimensions which in a representative example are a slot width of one-half inch and a slot length of three and one-half inches.

Operation of the pressing implement is enhanced if the lower end of the tube 48 is closed. Any convenient means for closing the cuff end of the tube may be employed. In the embodiment selected for illustration, the cuff ends of both pressure bars are provided with sheath like handles, such for example as bicycle handle bar grips. The end of the grip 72 at the cuff end of pressure bar 48 is closed whereas the lower end of grip 70 at the end of pressure bar 46 is provided with an opening 74 which is visible in FIGURES 3 and 4 and by which steam may be introduced into the interior of the pressing implement by the hand nozzle 32.

As best shown in FIGURE 3, the hoop 50 is advantageously formed of a strip of spring material which is circular in relaxed condition and which, as comparison of FIGURES 2 and 3 will illustrate, has a diameter such that the relaxed width of the implement exceeds the width of the sleeve with which it is to be associated.

Although I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of my invention, I am fully aware that many modifications thereof are possible.

I claim:

1. For use with apparatus for applying steam to the interior of a garment to press the same:

(a) a garment sleeve pressing implement comprising forward and rearward pressure bars lying in a common plane each including an elongate member, means for urging said pressure bars apart comprising a spring secured to each bar at a point in the mid region along its length, said spring having resilience permitting the bars to be urged together suificiently to permit their insertion together within a garment sleeve, said forward pressure bar having a plurality of perforations formed through the forward surface thereof at said mid region, said forward pressure bar having at least one opening substantially larger than said perforations formed in its rearward surface; and means by which to introduce air and steam at one end of said forward pressure bar directly to the whole of its interior.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 in which said forward pressure bar comprises a heat conductive material at its forward side in said mid region.

3. The invention defined in claim 2 in which said forward pressure bar is formed of a tubular material foraminated at its forward edge in its mid region, said tubular material having an enlarged opening formed therethrough at its rearward side affording communication from the interior of said tube to the space between said bars; and in which the rearward pressure bar is formed without opening in its rearward side.

4. The invention defined in claim 3, in which said spring is formed in the shape of a loop having diameter exceeding the width at the elbow of a garment sleeve.

5. The invention defined in claim 3, further comprising a length of elongate conduit formed of coiled spring material extending from a connection at one end of one of said pressure bars to a connection at the corresponding end of the other of said pressure bars.

6. The invention defined in claim 5, in which both of said pressure bars are made of heat conductive metallic tubing.

7. The invention defined in claim 6, in which said spring is hoop-shaped and formed of metallic ribbon.

7 8 8. The invention defined in claim 7, in which said 2,487,657 11/1949 Larson et a1. 22373 rearward pressure bar is closed at its cuff and in which 2,662,672 12/1953 Amber 223--72 said forward pressure bar is open at its cuff end. 2,868,424 1/1959 Helton 22363 2,948,447 8/1960 Tourney et a1. 22374 References Cited 1,758,742 5/1930 G ldk f 74 GEORGE V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner 2,485,257 10/1949 Caldwell 22372 

